Review of Reviews, WIS/OO. 



History of the Month. 



221 



gigantic vices of the age. As compared witli this, 

 it is cheering to note that ste[)S have been taken by 

 the Federal Government to prevent German and 

 Dutch lotteries launching thousands of lottery circu- 

 lars into Australia under cO'ver of envelopes bearing 

 English stamps. It seems that these circulars are 

 printed in England to deceive the authorities, and 

 recently a letter was recei\-ed from the Secretary 

 of the British Postal Department, expressing regret 

 that the British Postmaster-General had not any 

 power to refrain from despatching packets that were 

 merely suspected of containing lo'ttery circulars. 

 This at first sight looks as though nothing could be 

 done to prevent the co'ntinuance of the evil, but it 

 is cheering to note that the British authorities are 

 prepared to take action in other directions, and that 

 O'uly as late as October last they took steps toi bring 

 about the conviction, with a sentence of six weeks^ 

 imprisonment, of a printer of similar circulars. It 

 is becoming evident that the Post Office may be- 

 come a great reforming institution, through exercis- 

 ing its power to refuse to carry anything that is of 

 an objectionable character. 



The question of a Progressive 

 Cutting ap Land Tax is gradually being 

 large Estates, forced into prominence in Aus- 

 tralia, and the discussion of the 

 matter by the Leader of the Opposition and by 

 Mr. J. C. Watson will not be without a 

 great deal of benefit and public enlightenment. 

 Air. Reid's contention that a proposal for a 

 graduated tax means confiscation will not hold 

 water, for, as Mr. Watson points out, there would 

 probably be a large exemption up toi say ^5000, so 

 that it could be easily escaped by cutting up land 

 and selling it, market value being obtained for it. 

 Clearly something of the kind is necessary. Crown 

 lands for settlement have practically gone, and the 

 steps which the States are taking to break up large 

 estates gives ample proof that legislation of some 

 kind that will produce this effect is necessary. Mr. 

 Swinburne, the Victorian Minister of Water Sujjply, 

 who has lately been on a visit to New Zealand, has 

 expressed surprise at the way in which the idea of 

 a Progressive Land Tax was a matter of conviction 

 amongst men of all classes throughout that favoured 

 colony. That may be because New Zealand has rea- 

 lised more acutely than the other States the necessity 

 for the cutting up of the land, so as to ])rovide farni 

 areas for men of small means. Certain it is that, 

 although a few years ago the idea was looked upon 

 as chimerical, and wildly revolutionary, in a few 

 years it will have become an established fact. The 

 Victorian Lands Department has done good work in 

 the acquisition of large estates. It has thrown open 

 some thousands of acres of land, and the results 

 achieved have more than justified the action which 

 has been taken. But the same result would be 

 achieved automatically if it became impossible for 



5 ohnstonc, O'Shatincssy & Clj.] [ "hotc. 



Mr. Justice Holpoyd, Acting Chief Justice of Victoria, 



Who anticipates shortly retiring from tlie Bench, after a 

 long and honoured career. 



owners of large tracts to hold them only partially 

 cultivated. 



emperance is having a boom in 



N e w Zea 1 a n d scor e d 



The T 



South Australian Australasia 

 Local Option ^ • , 1 ^ T-i 1 X- 



Polls. ^ great victory last December, New 



South Wales has got fairly under 

 weigh with her new Liquor Bill, and South Australia 

 now reaps the reward of her patient waiting for 

 fifteen years. That long time ago it was decided 

 that, after the passing of a derade and a half, the 

 South Australian people should have a voice in the 

 closing of public-houses without any monetary com- 

 pensation. It is not by any means an ideal measure, 

 hut, nevertheless, it gives a considerable power to 

 the electors. It jirovides for a [jo-ssible reduction 

 of licenses by one-third of tJie existing number. 

 Moreover, the women ha\-e a \-ote, and these two 

 things alone are sufficient to give a free people 

 a mighty weapon to smite the liquor traffic. 



What the Issues 

 Were. 



It will interest those in other parts 

 of Australia to know that the issues 

 voted upon ^\•ere : — 



That Licenses be reduced by one-third. 

 That Licenses be reduced by one-sixth. 

 That License be continued as at present. 

 That new Licenses be granted. 

 A voting-paper of that kind is something of a Dutch 



